The Follies of Activism

1) The Constitution only protects rights. It doesn't give them. So you have the rights regardless if they are spelled out in that piece of
paper or not.
2) The 2nd doesn't extend any rights; nor does it protect any rights. Again that is the Constitution that does so.
3) If you are using violence to get your way then you have given up on peaceful protest. No one is going to take you seriously if you try to
deescalate to non-violence after already engaging in violence.
4) The 2nd isn't going to help you retain your rights from the government taking them away even if it were to happen. If you were to become violent
anti-government radicals using guns then if you are caught (if not outright killed by the military) then you'll be treated as an enemy combatant.

You need to get right with reality and stop being so damn triggered whenever you see a liberal talk about guns. Damn you fly off the handle even when
someone like myself isn't even talking about gun control...

now you try to conflate your dumbass post with my own issues

how bout just say what you mean in the first place and stop trying to find fault with anyone who calls you out on a non nonsensical post

trying to make me at fault when in reality i have not really agreed with you or did agreed with you and now you go to the right left parade just cause
one stupid post you could just have said in the first place that it was wrong and not what you meant

that is nothing more than being hard headed

save all your bs conflation and admit that defending yourself via 2nd does not remove your right to protest

You're so dishonest Les. You know exactly what you're doing, but maybe you're ignorant enough to not know what you're doing.

If the KKK are activists then how in the hell can you say that activists aren't reminiscent of the KKK? That makes no sense at all. Obviously you
bringing up the KKK in a thread about activism/activists is proof that activists remind you of the KKK.

Did I just teach you the word "reminiscent"? You keep using it, albeit in a different context. Glad I could be of service, but might I suggest not
overusing the word.

But here is the spot I used the word:

"Activism is, after all, one degree or another of coercion. When it comes to manifest in its collective form, whether by march or boycott for example,
it is by nature a menacing threat reminiscent of the lynchings and public executions of historical upheavals, such as in the French and Russian
revolutions. "

Never once did I say activists are "reminiscent", nor remind me, of the KKK.

Here's my argument, and you would look less foolish if you didn't misrepresent it.

"But one should be suspicious of activists from the very start, because they refuse to remind themselves and others of the more nefarious activists
throughout history. If activism is direct, vigorous action towards a goal of social improvement, that would also include your average Islamist
revolutionary, KKK Clansman, fascist and socialist dictator. Their goals, however disastrous, religious, or racist, were to them social improvements.
"

You're such a liar Les and I almost feel sorry that you're so dishonest not only with others but also yourself. Must be sad to have to lie to
yourself constantly and never admit you're wrong.

It must be tough not being able to read, or to argue in good faith. I pity you.

No 2nd here in the UK, but no armed security either (not even sticks) so activism can and does work here when enough people care about the cause.
Civil disobedience is a necessary tool in an activists bag at times.

I mentioned Brexit earlier and Soros sticking his beak into UK affairs wanting a second referendum, I will protest in London about that, if only to
show numbers.
The only need I could see for civil disobedience in the current times is if after Brexit any of my EU mates are threatened with no visa to stay here
or whatever. Everyone I know will hide them if need be, and physically fight any immigration snatch squads if it came to it. I'll take an arrest and
some lame fine for that any day, you pay fines off in instalments here, and being arrested is like the least scary thing in Britain.

I'm sensible though, I'll resist/fight immigration officers not cops because there is no specific offence protecting Crown servants here, it's just
like fighting a civilian, so lame fine again.
There is a place for activism...for just causes.

This activism intentionally creates situations where violence is likely to occur and they can often get away without reprisal. To facilitate this they
don a veneer of martyrdom and righteousness which no amount of reason or facts can take away. It has become part and parcel of their ego and
self-image, giving them an inflated sense of purpose.

Once the emperor has chosen to walk through the streets without clothes they have cornered themselves psychologically. To renounce their stance would
be too embarrassing which leads to further radicalization just to preserve their self-image. One hell of a moral compass to tie one's self to but
their professors and media keep telling them they're in the right.

originally posted by: Asktheanimals
This activism intentionally creates situations where violence is likely to occur and they can often get away without reprisal.

Activism was
the only thing that stopped Monsanto in the UK, our crops would all be GM like the US if we hadn't destroyed test crops and made their working
environment impossible. The only violence was from private security and yes I traded a few blows defending myself. We won though, too many people.
Even the cops backed us up on the sly, most thanked us for trying to keep the UK free of GM crops, which we did.
Best victory I've ever been part of.

Ok, so activism is reminiscent of killing people in public and lynchings. Isn't the KKK known for lynchings and public executions? Hmmmm. But either
way, one is no better than the other.

Reminiscent of lynchings and public executions, reminiscent of the KKK. Po-tay-to po-tah-to.

I pity you.

Likewise. You are desperately denying the implications of the OP by resorting to semantics and double speak. I have simply brought the implications
into better light and you refuse to admit what you know to be true. Good luck with your continued dishonesty.

I understood you perfectly fine, what I read says that activism is akin to the Nazi's publicly executing Jews. The motivations behind Hitler killing
Jews and people peacefully demonstrating about things they believe to be issues are the same.

Didn't see Jew's mentioned in the OP????? Take your meds.Your typical "So what your saying is,,,," not what he said at all!

Perhaps he triggered you and in your mind he said that, but for those who can read he did not!

Activism has become a sport for those who find themselves able to sleep better at night knowing they virtue signaled while accomplishing nothing more
than patting each other on the back and using authoritarian tactics to shut down the freedom of speech of those they disagree with!

You guys have more in comin with the Nazi's than you will ever know.....

Ok, so activism is reminiscent of killing people in public and lynchings. Isn't the KKK known for lynchings and public executions? Hmmmm. But either
way, one is no better than the other.

Reminiscent of lynchings and public executions, reminiscent of the KKK. Po-tay-to po-tah-to.

I pity you.

Likewise. You are desperately denying the implications of the OP by resorting to semantics and double speak. I have simply brought the implications
into better light and you refuse to admit what you know to be true. Good luck with your continued dishonesty.

No, again, that’s not my argument. I was referring the French and Russian revolutions, where protesting mobs ended up lynching and executing the
people they were protesting.

I’m not sure why you cannot argue in good faith. And there you run away like everyone else who plays the same game.

originally posted by: Asktheanimals
This activism intentionally creates situations where violence is likely to occur and they can often get away without reprisal.

Activism was
the only thing that stopped Monsanto in the UK, our crops would all be GM like the US if we hadn't destroyed test crops and made their working
environment impossible. The only violence was from private security and yes I traded a few blows defending myself. We won though, too many people.
Even the cops backed us up on the sly, most thanked us for trying to keep the UK free of GM crops, which we did.
Best victory I've ever been part of.

You’re missing out. GM foods are not worse in any way. Are you sure you weren’t misinformed?

The word Nazi comes with the implication of dead Jews and the holocaust.

Next time there is another tea party type of movement remember this thread and how Nazi-ish those people are being. Whenever Trump goes on his
eventual re-election campaign remember that he's acting like a Nazi or KKK member.

There are plenty of implications in the thread, I can't help that you can't or refuse to see them.

The word Nazi confess with the implication of dead Jews and the holocaust.

Next time there is another tea party type of movement remember this thread and how Nazi-ish those people are being. Whenever Trump goes on his
eventual re-election campaign remember that he's acting like a Nazi or KKK member.

There are plenty of implications in the thread, I can't help that you can't or refuse to see them.

originally posted by: seeker1963
Activism has become a sport for those who find themselves able to sleep better at night knowing they virtue signaled while accomplishing nothing more
than patting each other on the back and using authoritarian tactics to shut down the freedom of speech of those they disagree with!

I
imagine that is the case for some.
For me, activism is fighting for a cause I deem to be just and because it is the right thing to do. I've been anti-authoritarian all my life though,
growing up in 70's/80's Britain shaped me.
I couldn't imagine laying down and taking it like a good little peasant subject lol, not in my DNA.

Our mantra in the 90's was always 'let other nations be the crash test dummy's, not ours'. We could argue the science all day but that would be
off-topic. My assertion is that activism, and more importantly civil disobedience, was the sole reason Monsanto pulled out of the UK. The people beat
that massive corporation, and not only are there no GM crops in the UK, GM food is banned for human consumption, but we can thank EU governments for
that curiously.

I think there's a missing subtext, I'm talking about recent protests in the US which means BLM, Antifa, No Trumpers. Those are who I am referencing
here. I've done plenty of protests myself so it's not the entire idea I'm discounting.

Our mantra in the 90's was always 'let other nations be the crash test dummy's, not ours'. We could argue the science all day but that would be
off-topic. My assertion is that activism, and more importantly civil disobedience, was the sole reason Monsanto pulled out of the UK. The people beat
that massive corporation, and not only are there no GM crops in the UK, GM food is banned for human consumption, but we can thank EU governments for
that curiously.

Well, the science is actually pretty solid. GM foods are not evil, dangerous, or harmful. In fact, GM foods are a boon to humanity.

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